09/28/2026
We're again to the part of the election cycle where the Old Parties try to pressure people into voting against their own principles, in order to "stop" someone they try to convince you is worse than their candidate.
Let's think about that.
They know their candidate doesn't align with your values. They're just trying to convince you that their candidate is less-misaligned than the candidate of the other Old Party.
They will often point to "spoilers". But losing candidates always blame others for their loss. Republicans are especially bad about this talking point.
Often, Republicans point to Perot. Running in 1992 and 1996, his platform included NAFTA reform and balancing the federal budget. In 1999, a Republican congress and a Democratic president balanced the budget to keep Perot from running again. That was the last time the federal budget was actually balanced. And statistical analysis shows that Perot's run didn't swing the election. Look at the number of votes cast 1988 through 2000, and note the increased number of votes in 1992 and 1996 versus the number of votes for Perot.
The philosophy behind libertarianism is fundamentally and importantly different than both conservativism and liberalism (as the terms are used in the US). We are all about leaving individuals to freely associate and exchange with others, letting people make decisions for themselves and owning the outcome of their decisions. We're against the initiation of force and against fraud.
Where Libertarians align with conservatives, it is on some vocalized desired economic outcomes. Where Libertarians align with liberals, it is on some vocalized desired social outcomes. But those areas of alignment are rarely, if ever, what those groups actually legislate when they have power.
Personally, I refuse to vote lesser-of-two ever again. I leave more races blank on the ballot than anything else. In 2023 I ran as a write-in just so I had someone to vote for. This election I'll be voting in 2 or 3 races, out of 8.
The only Republican I consistently voted for was primaried out, strongly urged by the man-child leader of the modern GOP. So, that's one vote the GOP won't get from me anymore.
I only have two Democrats on my ballot, and I'll be voting non-D/R in both of those races.
So my ballot is likely to be 2 non-D/R partisan votes, and maybe a non-partisan down-ballot (because one of the candidates came to my door and asked for my vote).
I've been voting non-D/R for over 25 years, and I've never, ever regretted it. My electoral disappointments stem from the Old Parties rarely accomplishing things they claim align with my values. And my only hope is for more non-D/R options on the ballot.
